Ah crap, I actually have to talk to people… about myself?
The thought of this can be absolutely terrifying for some people. I for one do not like to ‘talk myself up’. For many years, whilst building my business, I was also working for other companies to maintain my cashflow. When people asked what I did for work, I subconsciously always told them about my ‘day job’, rather than my own business!
This was partly caused from the insecurities I had, and partly because I didn’t want people to think I was boasting or something.
The below steps might help you move past some of those internal fears. Whether it be talking to acquaintances, potential client or even networking events, the best way for you to grow your business is to get talking.
Steps you can take to end your stigma about talking about yourself or your business
1. Step outside of your own shoes
What I mean by this, is try to think of yourself as an employee of your business. It’s much easier to emotionally separate yourself from your own insecurities and overthinking, if you think it as ‘just doing your job’.
Think – You’re not charging this much, [Business Name] is and that’s just my job…
2. Try a different approach to talking about your business – mention the problem your product / service solves
You’ve started your business for a reason. Whether you have a unique product or a higher quality product, you have a solution to an existing problem. Why not try conversation starters such as:
- ‘It was so hard to find good [product/service] around here. That’s why I decided to start [business].’
- ‘I was doing/making/selling [product service] for years just for family and friends, so I decided to take it to the next level and start my own business.’
If your business is something they are interested in, these starters will generally lead people to ask questions. This will allow you to have a more casual conversation, alleviating any internal stress you might have going on.
3. Is there a nice way to say suck it up?
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had to tell myself this many times. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and do the hard thing. Make the phone call, send the email or just simply connect. Try setting yourself a deadline to accomplish the task by, so that you can’t keep putting it off.
4. The more you do it, the easier it gets
You know what they say, practice makes perfect. The more you do the hard things the easier they get. The more you people you talk to, the less dreadful the next conversation is. It’s not so scary anymore. You also never know what opportunities might present themselves from a simple conversation.
All in all, it’s not always easy to start talking about your business. However, if you just start, make that leap, and keep taking one step at a time, you never know where you might end up. You should be proud of yourself, and your business and how far you have come.
If you need some practical advice on how to start talking about your business, get in touch today!